Scaffold trailer



Nov. 7, 1967 R. MEEK 3,351,207

SCAFFOLD TRAILER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG? INVENTOR RALPH L. MEEK BEO'K'MMTM ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, 1967 R. L. MEEK 3,351,207

SCAFFOLD TRAILER Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RALPH L. MEEK B ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,351,207 SCAFFOLD TRAILER Ralph L. Meek, 1441 Larkin Williams, Fenton, Mo. 63026 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,406 9 Claims. (Cl. 211-13) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A trailer provided with cross beams at each end and having vertically attaching header units connected to the cross beams to facilitate the hauling of scaffold members. The cross beams include vertical end sockets designed to receive plugs located at the lower corners of the header units which are U-shaped. The header units have sockets at their upper ends to enable them to be stacked one above the other, and act as supporting members for stacking scaffold towers in tiers. Each header unit includes a metal strip bent into a formation conforming to the shape of the scalfold towers in order tosupport the towers.

This invention relates generally to improvements in a device for the transportation and storage of structural members. It has to do particularly with the transportation of scaffold members in a trailer by stacking the scaffold members in a multiple rack system.

The usual way of transporting such scaffolding in the past has been by bundling or stacking the scaffold members together on the flat bed of a conventional truck or trailer. This method has several objectionable features including the possibility of damaging the individual lightweight bracing members of the scaffold members during bundling, the uneconomical utilization of the available load-carrying capacity of the trailer, the waste of space, the awkwardness involved in the bundling process, and the inconvenience inherent in the necessity of having to remove the scaffold members from the trailer individually. These undesirable characteristics, as well as others, are eliminated in the present assembly.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a scaffold-stacking assembly that can be used with a conventional trailer. 1

Another important object is to provide support beams at each end of the trailer, the support beams having vertical end stubs adapted for interconnection with scaffoldsupporting header units.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a series of scaffold-supporting header units having the capability of being stacked in tiers in vertical alignment at opposite ends of a carrier to form a plurality of cooperating pairs of end supports for the scaffold members.

Still another important object is achieved by providing a seating strip between laterally spaced vertical posts of each header unit, the strips, of cooperating pairs of header units in the same tier at opposite ends of the carrier, being shaped to conform to the configuration of, and hence receive, the scaffold members.

Another important object of the invention is afforded by the provision of selectively attachable header units which allows flexibility in that only those header units which are required to stack a given number of scaffold members need be erected at any one time. Another advantage is attained by the structural arrangement in which the upper tier of scaffold members is always accessible from above.

Yet another important object is satisfied in that the size and construction of the header units is such that each header unit can be easily handled and erected manually,

thus obviating the need for mechanical handling equipment.

It will be clear that by lashing the outermost scaffold members to their associated header units a whole tier of scaffold members can be removed at one time, thus the interconnected header units and structural members constitute a carrying frame that facilitates bulk handling.

An important objective is achieved by the provision of a plurality of header units removably mounted in tiers one above the other at each end of a carrier, each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, and by the provision of support means on the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier for supporting elongate structural members extending therebetween, in tiers.

Another important object is realized by the structural arrangement of the header units in tiers at Opposite ends of the carrier, by the constructions of the support means of adjacent headers units at the same end of the carrier, and by the relative dispositoin of the structural members between the cooperating pairs of header units in the tiers, whereby interference between the bases of the structural members is avoided.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed descn'pition of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the trailer assembly showing the header units mounted on the trailer and a typical arrangement of scaffold members;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trailer illustrating the disposition of the scaffold members;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the connection between the support beam and a typical header unit;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a scaffold member including its base;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the trailer, lateral support beams and header units. The header units are shown in their erected position at the near end of the trailer. At the far end of the trailer, one header unit is shown in the process of being erected, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a stub and post assembly suitable for converting the trailer, for the hauling of boards and like structural members and materials.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, it will be understood that the scaffold trailer consists essentially of a conventional trailer 10 constituting a vehicular carrier having a laterally mounted support beam 11 at each end, the support beam 11 providing a suitable base on which to build several tiers of header units 12 and 13 the purpose of these units 12 and 13 being to form racks or supports on which tostore or transport scaffold members 14, constituting elongate structural members.

The type of trailer 10 used for the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated is a conventional 5 /2 ton hauling trailer that is. sold commercially and can be purchased at retail outlets such as large hardware stores. It will be understood, however, that many trailers having a similar load-carrying capacity and having a similar construction would be suitable for the purpose.

The transverse support beam 11 at each end of trailer 10 consists of an elongate, horizontal I-beam seated on laterally spaced vertical posts 15, the posts 15 being welded, or otherwise attached, at their lower ends to an axle frame 16 of trailer 10, and at their upper ends to the underside of the lower flange of support beam 11. Secured, as by welding, to each end of support beam 11 and extending vertically upward perpendicular to beam 11 is a tubular stub 17. A plurality of ground wheels support the trailer 10. At least one ground wheel 20 is located at each end of the axle frames 16 at opposite ends of the trailer 10.

A plurality of header units 12 and 13 are detachably mounted alternately in tiers in vertical alignment, one above the other, at each end of the trailer 10. Because the header units 12 and 13 are substantially identical except for a single constructional modification, the component parts will be given corresponding reference numbers for clarity.

The header unit 12 or 13 is constructed basically of a tubular, elongate cross beam 21 having a vertical post 22 welded to each end, the laterally spaced posts 22 extending perpendicular to cross beam 21. As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the cross beam 21 is disposed horizontally slightly above the lower ends of posts 22. Projecting from the lower end of each post 22 is a reduced diameter plug 23 adapted to fit into a compatible socket 24 provided by the tubular stubs 17 at the ends of each support beam 11, or similarly, adapted to fit into a compatible socket 25 formed in the upper end of each post 22 in header unit 12 or 13.

Between the end posts 22 of the header unit 12 and attached to the elongate cross beam 21 is a support means provided by a continuous, supporting strip 26 shaped into such a serpentine configuration as to form, in the present embodiment, alternate truncated triangularly-shaped peaks 27 and inverted triangularly-shaped valley portions 30. The valley portions 30 provide a series of laterally spaced, top-opening recesses adapted to receive the bodies of the structural members 14 extending between a cooperating pair of header units 12 in the same tier at opposite ends of the trailer 10. Specifically, the triangularly-shaped valley portions 30 are suitable for supporting the triangularly-shaped bodies of the scaffold members 14 which the particular embodiment is designed to carry. The continuous, supporting strip 26 is welded,'or otherwise at tached, to the elongate cross beam 21 at the point where the inverted apices of the triangular valley portions 30 come into contact with the elongate cross beam 21.

The header unit 13 is constructed identically with the header unit 12 except that its continuous, supporting strip 31 has truncated, triangularly-shaped peaks 27 and inverted triangularly-shaped valley portions 30 laterally out of phase with or horizontally offset from those of the corresponding, continuous supporting strip 26 of header unit 12. The peaks 27 of header unit 13 coincide in vertical alignment with the valley portions 30 of the adjacent header unit 12, as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the ends of continuous strip 31 are Welded, or otherwise attached, to the vertical end posts 22, while the valley portions 30 are attached to the elongate cross beam 21.

Scaffold members 14 are shown in their transported position in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each scaffold member is supported at its extremities by disposing the triangularlyshaped body in the matching triangular configuration of aligned valley portions 30 of the continuous supporting strips 26 when the tier is formed with a matched pair of cooperating header units 12 and in the aligned valley portions 30 of the continuous supporting strips 31 when the tier is formed with a matched pair of cooperating header units 13.

The vertical stacks of alternating header units 12 and 13 at opposite ends of the trailer 10 are braced by diagonal cross-bracing 32 shown in FIG. 2. At each side of trailer 10, the cross-bracing 32 is attached at its ends to the vertical end posts 22 of the stacked header units 13 and the vertical stubs 17 of the support beams 11.

Posts 33, shown in FIG. 6, are provided as auxiliary equipment, for use when hauling structural members such as boards or other related materials. These posts 33 are used in lieu of the header units 12 and 13 when such hauling is required. Each post 33 includes a length having an external diameter such that the post 33 may be a stop means engaging the upper end of any stub 17, yet 1 allowing sufficient penetration of the post 33 into the stub socket 24 such that the post 33 is secured in the upright position without the necessity of permanent attachment means. One post 33 is provided for each of the four corners of the scaffold trailer.

A carrying frame is provided by detachably securing the outermost scaffold members-14 to the associated pair of header units 12 or 13 in each tier. The cooperating pair of header units 12 or 13 form the ends, and the outermost structural members 14 form the sides of the carrying frame. This carryingframe can then be lifted as a unit to remove it and the structural members .14 carried thereby from the trailer 10.

It is thought that the functional advantages of the scaffold trailer have become fully apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, the usage including assembly and disassembly of the scaffold trailer will be briefly described.

As generally indicated in FIG. 5 a header unit 12 is interconnected to the support beam 11 by inserting the plugs 23 on the bottom of posts 22 into the compatible receiving sockets 24 provided by stubs 17 of the support beam 11. One header unit 12 is initially erected in this manner at each end of the scaffold trailer. The scaffold tower members 14 are then loaded onto the scaffold trailer, the extremities of the individual structural members 14 resting in the aligned triangularly-shaped valley portions 30 of the coacting strips 26 of cooperating header units 12, the scaffold members having bodies of a conforming triangularly-shaped cross section.

The scaffold members 14 extend between and are supported in side-by-side relation on the cooperating pair of header units 12 so that bases 35 of alternate scaffold members 14 overhang the header units 12 at opposite ends of the scaffold trailer as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. From FIG. 4, it will be understood that the scaffold member 14 has an elongate base 35 extending laterally at right angles to the length of the body. When the triangularlyshaped bodies of the scaffoldmembers 14 are located within the compatible, triangularly-shaped valley portions 30, the elongate bases 35 are automatically disposed in a substantially vertical position as shown in FIG. 1.

When the first tier of scaffold members 14 has been loaded, a header unit 13 may be erected at each end of the scaffold trailer 10 above the subjacent header unit12, in precisely the same manner as header unit 12 was mounted above the subjacent, associated support beam 11. The plugs 23 projecting from the lower ends of the vertical end posts 22 of header unit 13 are inserted into the coacting sockets 25 provided by the upper end of the vertical end posts 22 of the associated subjacent header unlt 12.

Prior to loading a second tier of scaffold members 14, crosssbracing 32 is placed in position between the two sets of header units 12-13 erected at opposite ends of the storage trailer 10, to stabilize header units 1213, one set of cross-bracing 32 being provided at each side of the scaffold trailer 10. The cross-bracing 32 on one side of the scaffold trailer 10 is clearly indicated in FIG. 2.

A second tier of scaffold members 14 can now be loaded onto the trailer 10, the bases 35 of scaffold members 14 being juxtaposed with those of the first tier as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in such a manner that the overhanging bases 35 of the scaffold members 14 avoid interference with those of the subjacent tier. The structural members 14 in the tier defined by the cooperating pair of header units 13 are arranged lengthwise in side-by-side relation with their ends alternately reversed so that the bases 35 overhang the header .units 13 at opposite ends of the trailer 10. Because the supporting strips 26 of header.

' pitch, relative to the supporting strips 31 of the subjacent cooperating pair of header units 12, the overhanging bases 35 of this second tier are located between the underlying structural members 14, and specifically at one side of the elongate bases 35 of such underlying structural members 14. It will be clearly seen that the preferred alternating pattern of peaks 27 and valley portions 30 formed by the continuous supporting strips 26 and 31 faCllltEl tBS the economy of storage space and uniform load distribution inherent in this stacking procedure.

When the second tier of scaffold members 14 has been loaded, another header unit 12 can be erected at each end f the scaffold trailer and above subjacent header unit 13, in precisely the same manner as header unit 11:5 was mounted above the associated subjacent header unit 12. A third tier of scaffold members can be loaded onto the trailer 10, the bases 35 overhanging header units 12 1n such a way as to avoid interference between the overhanging bases 35 of subjacent tiers and also to ensure equltable weight distribution.

In this rack assembly, the alternate header units 12 stacked vertically at each end of the trailer 10 have their valley portions 30 in vertical alignment, yet laterally offset or out of phase with the valley portions 30 of the intervening header unit 13. Again, it will be understood that the structural members 14 in each tier defined by the cooperating pairs of header units 12 are arranged in sideby-side relation and are alternately reversed so that the bases 35 of adjacent structural members 14 overhang the header units 12 at opposite ends of the trailer 10. Moreover, the structural members 14 in vertically aligned valley portions 30 of alternate header units 12 are relatively reversed endwise also so that the bases 35 of these structural members 14 overhang the header units at opposite ends of the trailer 10.

It will be understood that in each tier, a carrying frame can be formed. The uppermost tier formed by the cooperating pair of header units 12 will be used as an example. In this tier, the outermost scaffold members 14 are lashed by fastenings 36 to the opposed header units 12. The carrying frame is formed by the header units 12 constituting its ends and by the outermost scaffold members 14 constituting its sides. This entire frame can be lifted, together with the remaining scaffold members 14 carried thereby, onto and off of the trailer 10.

It will be clear that the trailer may be adapted for use in hauling other structural members and materials such as boards. To facilitate this operation, posts 33 are inserted into the sockets 24 provided by the tubular end stubs 17 of the support beams 11 at each corner of the trailer 10. The posts 33 constituted stops means to facilitate the stacking of such other materials as may require hauling when the trailer 10 is not being used for hauling the scaffold members 14 for which it is primarily designed.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive rather than in i any restrictive sense, many variations being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

"1. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate-structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) sup ort beams mounted at each end of the carrier including substantially tubular stubs attached to each end of each support beam, each stub being provided with a socket,

(c) a plurality of header units mounted in tiers one above the other in substantially vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(d) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially vertical posts, the posts including plugs at one end and sockets at the opposite end, the plugs of each header unit interfitting the sockets of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier to interconnect the header units in the tiers,

(e) the plugs of the lowermost header unit at each end of the carrier interfitting the sockets of the stubs, (f) support means on each header unit between the vertical posts, the support means including a seating strip having a sawtooth configuration with top-opening valley portions adapted to receive the elongate structural members,

(g) the sawtooth configuration of the seating strip of each header unit being laterally out of phase by onehalf sawtooth pitch relative to the sawtooth configuration of the seating strip of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier, and

(h) the header units being placed in matched pairs in the same tier at opposite ends of the carrier.

2. In a trailer and elongate structural post members and the like supported and transported in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a plurality of elongate structural post members,

(b) a carrier transporting the elongate post members for independent use at a building site,

(c) a plurality of headerunits removably mounted in tiers one above the other at each end of the carrier,

(d) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier,

(e) the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier including means between the ends of the header unit supporting at least two spaced elongate structural post members extending between opposite header units, in tiers, and

(f) means connecting two spaced transported structural post members in each tier to the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier to provide a temporary, removable carrying frame.

3. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the neXt adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperatnig header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperatnig header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to support elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers, and

(g) the support means for each header unit including a substantially serpentine seating strip between and supported by the posts of each header unit, the strip providing recesses adapted to receive the carried elongate structural members.

4. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elon gate structural members and the like in multiple tiers comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to support elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers,

(g) the support means for each header unit including a beam extending between and rigidly interconnecting the substantially upright posts, and

(h) a serpentine seating strip secured to the beam between the laterally spaced posts, the strip providing upwardly opening recesses adapted to receive while the beam and strip are adapted to support the carried elongate structural members.

5. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to sup port elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers,

(g) the support means for each header unit including a beam extending between and rigidly interconnecting the laterally spaced posts, and

(h) a continuous, serpentine seating strip between the posts, the strip having a substantially sawtooth configuration with a series of alternate peaks and valley portions,

(i) the apices of the valley portions being attached to the beam, and

(j) the valley portions adapted to receive, and the beam and strip adapted to support the carried elongate structural members.

6. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to support elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers,

(g) the support means for each header unit including a plurality of laterally spaced, top-opening recesses adapted to receive and support the carried elongate structural members, and

(h) the recesses of the cooperating header units of each tier being laterally offset and disposed between the recesses of the cooperating header units in each adjacent tier.

7. 'A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to sup port elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers,

(g) the support means for each header unit including a plurality of laterally spaced, top-opening recesses adapted to receive and support the carried elongate structural members, and

(h) the recesses of the cooperating header units of each tier being laterally offset and disposed between I the recesses of the cooperating header units in each adjacent tier, and

(i) the cooperating header units in each tier at opposite ends of the carrier being matched.

8. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers, comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier, each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

(d) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to support elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers,

(g) the support means for each header unit including a seating strip between the laterally spaced posts, the strip having a sawtooth configuration with topopening valley portions adapted to receive and support the carried elongate structural members,

(h) the sawtooth configuration of the strip of each header unit being out of phase laterally relative to the sawtooth configuration of the strip of the next.

adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier, and

(i) the cooperating header units in the same tier at opposite ends of the carrier being matched.

9. A trailer for the transportation and storage of elongate structural members and the like in multiple tiers,

comprising:

(a) a carrier,

(b) a plurality of header units disposed in tiers one above the other in vertical alignment at each end of the carrier,

(c) each header unit including laterally spaced, substantially upright posts,

((1) means detachably interconnecting the posts of each header unit with the posts of the next adjacent header unit at the same end of the carrier,

(e) support means between the substantially upright 1 posts of each header unit,

(f) each header unit at each end of the carrier having a cooperating header unit in the same tier at the opposite end of the carrier, the cooperating header units at opposite ends of the carrier adapted to support elongate structural members on the support means, in tiers, and

g) the support means for each header unit including a plurality of laterally spaced, upwardly-opening recesses adapted to receive and support the ends of carried elongate structural members having a substantially compatible body configuration.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Watson 294-67 Uecker et a1 182-178 X Wyen 182-178 X Juculano 182-178 Krokos 211-182 Levere 182-178 X ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

'W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A TRAILER FO THE TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF ELONGATE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND THE LIKE IN MULTIPLE TIERS. COMPRISING: (A) A CARRIER, (B) A PLURALITY OF HEADER UNITS DISPOSED IN TIERS ONE ABOVE THE OTHER IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT AT EACH END OF THE CARRIER, (C) EACH HEADER UNIT INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED, SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSTS, (D) MEANS DETACHABLY INTERCONNECTING THE POSTS OF EACH HEADER UNIT WITH THE POSTS OF THE NEXT ADJACENT HEADER UNIT AT THE SAME END OF THE CARRIER, (E) SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN THE SUBSTANTIALLY UPRIGHT POSTS OF EACH HEADER UNIT, (F) EACH HEADER UNIT AT EACH END OF THE CARRIER HAVING A COOPERATING HEADER UNIT IN THE SAME TIER AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE CARRIER, THE COOPERATING HEADER UNITS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CARRIER ADAPTED TO SUPPORT ELONGATE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS ON THE SUPPORT MEANS, IN TIERS, AND (G) THE SUPPORT MEANS FOR EACH HEADER UNIT INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY SERPENTINE SEATING STRIP BETWEEN AND SUPPORTED BY THE POSTS OF EACH HEADER UNIT, THE STRIP PROVIDING RECESSES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE CARRIED ELONGATE STRUCTURAL MEMBERS. 